Your letters

Thank you, Tristram Hunt, for providing me with the voice I have been so desperate to find since debates on Britishness began ('Stop endless lessons about Nazis. Tell us our national story instead', Comment, last week).

I'm a Scot living in London who attended a comprehensive and adored history. I applaud Hunt's approach to encouraging a positive sense of part of my identity that I would like to maintain, but find difficulty in doing so.

I studied German history from Weimar to the end of Second World War, but would have loved to hear about the Scottish Enlightenment, or discovered the significance of the Round Table - that Arthur was truly enlightened.Cara MacDowallLondon E8

Tristram Hunt misses the crucial point that Nazi Germany, and the Holocaust in particular, are an intrinsic part of British history. In particular, learning about the refugees and survivors who sought and found refuge in Britain, contributes significantly to young people's understanding of the cultures and traditions that make up British society and the difficulties experienced by immigrant families.

At the Holocaust Educational Trust we strive to teach young people about the Holocaust not only for its own sake but also for its pivotal lessons for today. Karen PollockChief Executive Holocaust Educational Trust

Post haste

Far from withdrawing subsidy from the post office network ('Stamps, postal orders ... latte. The key to rural life', Jasper Gerard, Opinion, last week), the government is committed to an ongoing subsidy of up to £150m a year to help preserve it.

This is a key part of our £1.7bn strategy to support modernisation of the network and it comes on top of some £2bn the government has invested in it since 1999. Rather than leaving post offices 'struggling', our strategy is designed to put the network on a firm footing for the internet age. The commercial freedom and regulatory framework we have provided give Royal Mail the means to run a successful network in a competitive marketplace. Jim Fitzpatrick Postal Services Minister London SW1

Lost in translation

Darra Singh's link between the provision of translation and interpreting services with people's perceived lack of motivation to learn English is false ('If you don't play your part, your community will wither', Comment, last week).

There are a multitude of reasons why people don't learn English to the level of a native speaker, as anyone who has ever tried to learn a foreign language will understand. As a teacher, I know that depriving people of public services through a lack of translated material and qualified interpreters will exclude, not include, people. Jane FoxworthyLeicester

Allergy action

It is wrong to say the NHS is being 'swamped' by allergy sufferers (News, last week). We are working with NHS organisations and experts to improve services that affect so many people.

For instance, we have invited major research funders to help us improve our understanding of the causes and effects of allergies. And we have asked NHS organisations to look at whether they need to commission more local training posts for allergy services. Ivan Lewis Health Minister London SW1

Booming back

Your article 'Baby boomers: broke, ailing and anxious' (News, last week) paints an unfamiliar picture to this baby boomer. Being the most taxed, productive, creative and lifestyle-conscious generation ever, comes with a gratitude for being the first 20th-century born generation not to have to live through and fight a major war.

So two-thirds of us are 'extremely anxious' about changes in their appearance? Rubbish. We are still wearing denims, and the 21st century has seen the reappearance of winkle-pickers. Richard PeaceDirector Babyboomersuk.com Ltd Aisby, Lincolnshire

Gummer on condoms

John Gummer's 'This much I know' (Magazine, 10 June) left a puzzle. While Secretary of State for Health, he preached safe sex and condom usage on all occasions. However, he has now become a member of a church happy to state, as was done by a Vatican spokesman on a Panorama programme, that a condom is permeable and that the HIV virus can pass through one.

What is Mr Gummer's view on this matter? Has he changed his opinion - considering that he also spoke positively about the infallibility of the Pope - when there is no evidence to support the Catholic church's belief? Eric GendleMiddlesbrough

Brother bother

Making a joke at your own expense is different from other people making fun of you ('Daft? Yes. Racist? Oh, come on ...' Comment, last week). One black person talking to another and referring to them as a 'nigger' is very different from a white person referring to a black person as a 'nigger'.

Most people are sufficiently socially skilled to recognise this. Big Brother's reaction to the use of the word by a contestant in the context it was used is the type of over-reaction found in organisations which have been guilty of ignoring racism and now wish to convince others that they are treating the issue very seriously. Blair McPhersonPreston, Lancashire

Smuggled meat

The Observer describes the gruesome effects of 'illegal meat' imported from abroad ('Health fears grow as mountains of meat are smuggled into the UK', News, last week) and then states that 'much of it is smuggled in from ... China'. This is yet another repetition of the 2001 foot and mouth disease smear that was successfully challenged at the time and earned a public apology.

Official figures refer only to east Asia as a geographical region. No one at Ben Bradshaw's department can authoritatively state what proportion of the 104 tons of illegally imported meat cited, if any, was imported from China. Anna ChenLondon NW6

Your article said that around 2 per cent of the illegal imports is bush meat - exotic meat such as zebra, anteater or monkey - which is prized among African Caribbean communities'. The fauna of the Caribbean region does include such species such as the rhesus monkey but they are not included in the local fare.

There are no zebra or anteater in the region, but in Jamaica we have the mongoose which would have been able to outrun even Ming Campbell at any time in his Olympic period, so we do not eat these either. Stephen BulginLondon SW2

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